Lectio Divina is an ancient Christian practice of scriptural reading and meditation and prayer.
It's something Christians have been practicing for hundreds of years.
Lectio Divina is translated as divine reading.
It's a way of reading scripture which is designed to inspire intimacy with God,
Hearing his voice,
Letting Him speak to you through His Word.
Unlike analytical or critical Bible study,
It doesn't desire anything of you other than your presence and your willingness to engage with Scripture to hear from the Almighty.
There are four traditional stages.
A passage of scripture is read four times.
The first time,
Just listen,
See if anything stands out to you,
Any phrases or words in particular.
Then we'll read it again,
The second time you get to meditate on that bit of text.
What does it say to me?
That is the question to consider.
You can ponder and reflect on a specific phrase,
A phrase that stood out,
Turn it over in your mind,
Considering how it intersects with your current life.
Time reading through,
It's time to pray.
You can pray in line with the scripture,
Speak honestly and openly with God about what has come up.
And then the fourth time.
Just contemplate and let God speak to you.
Rest in God's presence.
He is here with you now and he wants to speak.
And you can enjoy his presence at any time.
Allow the truth of scripture to settle in your soul.
The reading is taken from 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 11 to 15.
Here's the first time reading through.
This time,
Just listen.
Since then,
We know what it is to fear the Lord.
We try to persuade others.
What we are is plain to God,
And I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,
But are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,
So that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen,
Rather than what is in the heart.
If we are out of our mind,
As some say,
It is for God.
If we are in our right mind,
It is for you.
For Christ's love compels us,
Because we are convinced that one died for all,
And therefore all died.
And he died for all,
That those who live should no longer live for themselves,
But for him who died for them,
And was raised again.
Now for the second reading.
This time,
Just meditate on a single word or phrase that spoke to you the first time round.
Since then,
We know what it is to fear the Lord.
We try to persuade others.
What we are is plain to God,
And I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,
But are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,
So that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen,
Rather than what is in the heart.
If we are out of our mind,
As some say,
It is for God.
If we are in our right mind,
It is for you.
For Christ's love compels us,
Because we are convinced that one died for all,
And therefore all died.
And he died for all,
That those who live should no longer live for themselves,
But for him who died for them,
And was raised again.
The third time.
Listen prayerfully and speak openly and honestly with God about what you've been thinking about.
Since then,
We know what it is to fear the Lord.
We try to persuade others.
What we are is plain to God,
And I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,
But are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,
So that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen,
Rather than what is in the heart.
But if we are out of our mind,
As some say,
It is for God.
If we are in our right mind,
It is for you.
For Christ's love compels us,
Because we are convinced that one died for all,
And therefore all died.
And he died for all,
That those who live should no longer live for themselves,
But for him who died for them,
And was raised again.
Now for the fourth reading,
Which I'd like you to spend listening for God's voice.
Contemplate what it is He's got to say to you today.
Since then,
We know what it is to fear the Lord.
We try to persuade others.
What we are is plain to God,
And I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,
But are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,
So that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
If we are out of our mind,
As some say,
It is for God.
If we are in our right mind,
It is for you.
For Christ's love compels us,
Because we are convinced that one died for all,
And therefore all died.
And he died for all,
So that those who live should no longer live for themselves,
But for him who died for them and was raised again.
God bless you in your reading of scripture.
My name's David,
And I'll speak to you again.
